What is the IT Risk Assessment Calculator?

The IT Risk Assessment Calculator is a free, 22-question evaluation tool that helps small and medium-sized businesses in Wisconsin and Illinois identify cybersecurity vulnerabilities, backup gaps, compliance issues, and network security weaknesses. The assessment takes approximately 15 minutes to complete and provides an instant IT risk score (0-54 scale) with personalized recommendations. You'll receive a detailed breakdown via email showing exactly where your business technology is exposed to ransomware, data loss, downtime, and regulatory compliance risks. The calculator evaluates six critical areas: passwords and access control, devices and software, network security, backup and data recovery, people and security awareness, and compliance and cyber insurance.

How long does the IT risk assessment take?

The IT Risk Assessment Calculator takes approximately 15 minutes to complete all 22 questions. The assessment is designed to be thorough yet efficient, evaluating your business technology across six critical security categories without requiring technical expertise. You can complete the assessment in one sitting or save your progress and return later. After submission, you receive your IT risk score instantly, with a detailed breakdown delivered to your email within minutes. The 15-minute time investment provides comprehensive visibility into cybersecurity vulnerabilities that could cost thousands or millions if exploited by attackers.

Is the IT risk assessment really free?

Yes, the IT Risk Assessment Calculator is completely free with no hidden fees, no credit card required, and no obligation to purchase anything. Premier Technologies provides this assessment as a free educational resource to help Wisconsin and Illinois businesses understand their cybersecurity posture and technology risks. After completing the 22 questions, you provide your name, email, company name, and telephone number to receive your detailed risk score breakdown via email and optionally schedule a free consultation to discuss your results. We never sell your information to third parties. The assessment is valuable whether or not you engage Premier Technologies for managed IT services - many businesses use it as an internal audit tool to prioritize their own IT security improvements.

What information do I need to complete the assessment?

To complete the IT Risk Assessment Calculator, you need basic knowledge of your business technology practices - no technical expertise required. The 22 questions ask about password policies, multi-factor authentication usage, software update schedules, backup testing frequency, employee security training, cyber insurance coverage, and similar operational IT security practices. You don't need access logs, technical documentation, or system configurations. Business owners, office managers, and IT coordinators can all complete the assessment based on their understanding of company IT policies and practices. If you're unsure about any question, answer based on your best knowledge - the assessment identifies areas requiring further investigation, and you can schedule a free consultation with Premier Technologies to get expert clarification on any gaps identified.

What do the risk scores mean?

The IT Risk Assessment Calculator scores your business technology security on a 0-54 point scale with four risk level classifications. Critical Risk (0-18 points) indicates major security gaps in multiple areas - your network has serious vulnerabilities actively exploited by attackers including lack of multi-factor authentication, untested backups, no offsite data protection, or missing endpoint security. Immediate remediation is critical. High Risk (19-35 points) shows significant exposure with important security controls missing - you have some protections in place but meaningful gaps remain, particularly around backup testing, employee training, or network segmentation. Moderate Risk (36-46 points) reflects good baseline security practices with room for improvement - your IT environment has solid foundations but gaps exist in advanced protections, compliance documentation, or disaster recovery testing. Low Risk (47-54 points) demonstrates strong IT security posture - you have robust controls across all six assessment categories and should maintain through regular reviews and updates. Each score includes specific recommendations prioritizing the most critical gaps to address first.

What happens after I complete the assessment?

After completing all 22 questions in the IT Risk Assessment Calculator, you provide your name, email, company name, and telephone number to receive results. You immediately see your IT risk score (0-54 scale) and risk level classification (Critical/High/Moderate/Low). Within minutes, you receive a detailed email breakdown showing exactly which areas scored well and which need improvement across the six security categories assessed. The results include industry-specific recommendations for your business type (manufacturing, healthcare, hospitality, professional services, or local government) with prioritized action steps to close identified gaps. You also receive an immediate booking link to schedule a free, no-obligation IT assessment consultation with Premier Technologies where we can discuss your results, answer questions, and provide expert guidance on addressing vulnerabilities. There's no pressure to engage our services - the assessment provides actionable insights you can implement independently or with any IT provider you choose.

Who should take this IT risk assessment?

The IT Risk Assessment Calculator is designed for small and medium-sized businesses (5-100 employees) in Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois across all industries. Primary audiences include business owners who want to understand their technology risk exposure, office managers responsible for IT oversight without dedicated IT staff, IT coordinators evaluating their current security posture, manufacturing companies concerned about operational downtime and OT/IT security, healthcare organizations needing HIPAA compliance assessment, professional services firms (legal, accounting, consulting) protecting client data, hospitality businesses securing payment systems and guest information, and local government agencies managing taxpayer data and public systems. No technical expertise is required - the assessment is written in plain language for non-technical decision-makers. If you're asking 'Is our IT actually protecting us or just giving us a false sense of security?' this assessment provides the honest answer you need.

What six categories does the assessment evaluate?

The IT Risk Assessment Calculator evaluates six critical business technology security areas. Category 1: Passwords & Access Control assesses multi-factor authentication (MFA) implementation, password policies, credential reuse prevention, shared account elimination, former employee access removal, admin account separation, and least privilege access. Category 2: Devices & Software evaluates operating system currency, patch management (30-day update window), endpoint protection (antivirus/EDR), device inventory accuracy, unauthorized software prevention, and personal device security for BYOD. Category 3: Network Security reviews firewall configuration currency, guest network segmentation, default password elimination, remote access security (VPN/RDP with MFA), and network activity monitoring. Category 4: Backup & Data Recovery assesses backup automation frequency, offsite/cloud backup, quarterly restoration testing, documented disaster recovery plans, and 24-48 hour recovery capability. Category 5: People & Security Awareness evaluates annual cybersecurity training, phishing recognition, incident reporting procedures, new employee onboarding, and first-hour incident response readiness. Category 6: Compliance & Cyber Insurance reviews cyber liability insurance coverage, policy understanding, compliance documentation (HIPAA/PCI DSS/SOC 2), third-party vendor access controls, and professional audit currency.

Can I retake the assessment later?

Yes, you can retake the IT Risk Assessment Calculator as often as needed to track your security improvements over time. Many Wisconsin and Illinois businesses retake the assessment quarterly or after implementing recommended security controls to measure progress. Since technology threats evolve constantly and your business infrastructure changes (new employees, software updates, policy changes), periodic reassessment ensures your IT security keeps pace. We recommend retaking the assessment after addressing Critical or High Risk findings, after major IT changes (cloud migration, new software deployment, infrastructure upgrades), before cyber insurance renewals to demonstrate improved security posture, and at least annually as part of regular IT security reviews. Each assessment provides a new risk score reflecting current security state, allowing you to demonstrate measurable improvement to leadership, insurance carriers, compliance auditors, and board members.

How accurate is the IT risk assessment?

The IT Risk Assessment Calculator is based on industry-standard cybersecurity frameworks including NIST Cybersecurity Framework, CIS Critical Security Controls, and real-world security incident data from Premier Technologies' 28+ years managing IT for Wisconsin and Illinois businesses. The 22 questions target the most commonly exploited vulnerabilities and security gaps we see in actual ransomware attacks, data breaches, and compliance failures affecting SMBs. However, the assessment is based on your self-reported answers about your business practices - accuracy depends on answering questions honestly based on actual implementation rather than intentions or policies that aren't enforced. The assessment identifies high-probability risk areas but is not a substitute for comprehensive professional IT security audit which includes technical scanning, configuration review, penetration testing, and documentation analysis. For businesses scoring Critical or High Risk, we strongly recommend scheduling the free professional assessment consultation to validate findings and develop prioritized remediation plans with expert guidance.

What should I do with my assessment results?

After receiving your IT risk score and detailed breakdown, take these strategic actions based on your result. For Critical Risk (0-18): Schedule the free IT assessment consultation immediately - your business has significant security gaps requiring urgent professional attention. Prioritize multi-factor authentication implementation, backup testing validation, and endpoint protection deployment within 30 days. For High Risk (19-35): Review the detailed breakdown to identify your specific gaps, create a 60-90 day remediation roadmap prioritizing the highest-risk items, and consider scheduling the free consultation to validate your plan and get expert guidance. For Moderate Risk (36-46): Focus on closing remaining gaps systematically over the next quarter, implement any missing security awareness training or backup testing procedures, and schedule annual professional audit to catch configuration issues self-assessment can't identify. For Low Risk (47-54): Maintain current strong practices through regular reviews, document your security controls for compliance and cyber insurance purposes, and reassess quarterly to ensure continued effectiveness as threats evolve. Regardless of score, share results with leadership to build support for IT security investments and demonstrate due diligence for cyber insurance carriers, compliance auditors, and board members.

Free IT Risk Assessment for Small Business | Network Security Audit

1. Passwords & Access Control
49% of employees reuse credentials across work accounts. Stolen credentials are the #1 attack entry point. (CyberArk 2024)
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is enabled on all business email accounts and cloud services. [Critical]*
- Yes
- Partial
- No
- N/A
Email is the most targeted account in any business. Without MFA, a stolen password gives an attacker immediate access.

Employees are prohibited from reusing personal passwords for work accounts. [Critical]*
- Yes
- Partial
- No
- N/A
49% of employees do it. One compromised personal account can become an open door into your business network.

No shared login credentials exist between employees. Each person has their own unique account. [High]*
- Yes
- Partial
- No
- N/A
Shared logins make it impossible to trace who did what after an incident.

Former employees' accounts are disabled or deleted within 24 hours of departure. [Critical]*
- Yes
- Partial
- No
- N/A
Terminated employees, even those who leave on good terms, should not retain access to company systems.

Employees only have access to the systems and data they need to do their specific job (principle of least privilege). [High]*
- Yes
- Partial
- No
- N/A
Excessive access is one of the most commonly exploited gaps in SMB networks.

2. Devices & Software
30%+ of all cyberattacks exploit unpatched vulnerabilities. Nearly 29,000 new CVEs were published in 2024 alone. (Verizon DBIR 2025)
All computers and servers are running a currently supported operating system. [Critical]*
- Yes
- Partial
- No
- N/A
Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 in October 2025. Unsupported operating systems no longer receive security patches.

Windows and software updates are applied within 30 days of release (or automated). [Critical]*
- Yes
- Partial
- No
- N/A
Attackers specifically scan for unpatched systems. In 2024, over 4,600 CVEs were rated critical.

All business devices have endpoint protection (antivirus / EDR) installed and actively monitored. [High]*
- Yes
- Partial
- No
- N/A
Basic antivirus is no longer sufficient. EDR tools monitor behavior in real time.

3. Network Security
Misconfigured firewalls and flat network architecture allow attackers to move freely once inside. (Clouddle Security Audit Report 2025)
Your business firewall has been reviewed or reconfigured within the past 12 months. [Critical]*
- Yes
- Partial
- No
- N/A
Your business changes, your firewall rules need to change with it.

Your facility has a separate guest network for visitors and personal devices. [High]*
- Yes
- Partial
- No
- N/A
When others connect to the same network as your business systems, you lose control of who can access what.

Default passwords have been changed on all routers, switches, and network hardware. [Critical]*
- Yes
- Partial
- No
- N/A
Default router credentials like admin/admin are publicly documented.

Remote access to your network (VPN, RDP, remote desktop tools) is secured with MFA. [Critical]*
- Yes
- Partial
- No
- N/A
Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) is one of the most targeted attack vectors for ransomware.

Your network is actively monitored for unusual activity. [High]*
- Yes
- Partial
- No
- N/A
The average time to detect a breach is 194 days. Active monitoring dramatically shortens that window.

4. Backup & Data Recovery
75% of SMBs say ransomware could shut them down permanently. (ITIC 2024 / Sophos)
Critical business data is backed up automatically, at minimum once per day. [Critical]*
- Yes
- Partial
- No
- N/A
Every hour between backups is an hour of data you could lose permanently in a ransomware attack.

At least one backup copy is stored offsite or in the cloud (not just on a local drive). [Critical]*
- Yes
- Partial
- No
- N/A
A backup on the same network as your primary data can be encrypted alongside it in a ransomware attack.

Backups have been tested and successfully restored within the past 6 months. [Critical]*
- Yes
- Partial
- No
- N/A
An untested backup is just a hope. Many businesses discover their backups are incomplete or corrupted only when they need them.

A written disaster recovery plan exists that outlines who does what if systems go down. [High]*
- Yes
- Partial
- No
- N/A
Without a documented plan, recovery is slower, more expensive, and more chaotic.

5. People & Security Awareness
95% of data breaches involve human error. 65% of employees bypass security policies to make work easier. (IBM Security 2024 / NinjaOne 2025)
Employees have received cybersecurity awareness training in the past 12 months. [High]*
- Yes
- Partial
- No
- N/A
68% of all data breaches involve non-intentional human error. Regular training significantly reduces unintentional entry points.

There is a clear, documented process for employees to report suspicious emails, links, or activity. [High]*
- Yes
- Partial
- No
- N/A
Many employees who suspect something is wrong stay silent because they don't know who to tell.

New employees receive a security and acceptable use briefing before being granted system access. [Important]*
- Yes
- Partial
- No
- N/A
New hires are statistically more likely to fall for phishing attacks and make configuration mistakes.

6. Compliance & Cyber Insurance
Regulatory fines average $20,623 per SMB incident. Cyber insurance premiums are projected to rise 15% in 2026. (Microsoft SMB Cybersecurity Report / Insurance Journal)
Your business has a current cyber liability insurance policy in place. [High]*
- Yes
- Partial
- No
- N/A
Only 17% of small businesses carry cyber insurance, yet 1 in 3 faced an attack last year.

If your business handles regulated data (HIPAA, PCI DSS, personal data), you have a documented compliance program in place. [Critical]*
- Yes
- Partial
- No
- N/A
Regulatory fines can compound a breach significantly.

You're One Step Away From Your Results
Enter your details below and we'll display your score—plus email you a full breakdown of your results.
Name*
Company Email*
Phone Number*
Company Name*
Name
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Free IT Risk Assessment

Step 1 of 23

1. Passwords & Access Control

2. Devices & Software

3. Network Security

4. Backup & Data Recovery

5. People & Security Awareness

6. Compliance & Cyber Insurance

You're One Step Away From Your Results